title: A compositional analysis of cadaveric human nasal septal cartilage.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To localize quantitatively the major biochemical constituents of native adult human septal cartilage across whole septa.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, basic science.
  
  
  METHODS
  The nasal septa from seven cadavers were partitioned into 24 separate regions: six from caudal to cephalic and four from dorsal to ventral. Biochemical assays were used to determine the quantities, relative to wet weight, of the major constituents of cartilage: chondrocytes, collagen, and sulfated glycosaminoglycan.
  
  
  RESULTS
  On average, each milligram of wet cartilage contained 24,900 cells, 73.9 μg collagen, and 17.1 μg sulfated glycosaminoglycan. Cell number showed no significant variation across the septa. In contrast, the caudal regions of the septa were associated with higher levels of collagen, the ventral regions correlated with higher levels of sulfated glycosaminoglycan, and the dorsal regions were associated with an elevated ratio of collagen to sulfated glycosaminoglycan.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study represents the first characterization of the biochemical composition of native human septal cartilage across whole septa. Quantities of collagen and sulfated glycosaminoglycan showed region-specific variation across the septum. The localized pattern of collagen and sulfated glycosaminoglycan deposition are consistent with the significance of preserving the L-strut during rhinoplasty and other nasal reconstructive procedures. In addition, it may assist in defining design goals for tissue-engineered septal neocartilage constructs to meet specific reconstructive needs in the future.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, University of California at San Diego, California, U.S.A; Claremont McKenna College, Claremont, California, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Monica K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Neuman
authors.forename: Kristen K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Briggs
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Masuda
authors.forename: Robert L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Sah
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Watson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001669:Biochemical Phenomena; D002102:Cadaver; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D003094:Collagen / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D055171:Nasal Cartilages / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000737:chemistry*; D012225:Rhinoplasty / Q000379:methods; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D023822:Tissue Engineering
chemical_list: D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; C013786:A73025; D003094:Collagen
keywords: Human septal cartilage; cartilage tissue engineering; chondrocyte; collagen; glycosaminoglycan